Farmers Reconnect Over the Fence
As part of their 'Over the Fence' project, Weddin Landcare held a series of six field days designed to provide farmers with practical knowledge and insights to how local farmers are adopting climate-smart agricultural practices.
Capacity building - LEP23-005-Weddin-02_LLC_015
The issue
Over the past few years, Weddin Landcare Coordinators have observed that local farmers have become quite insular, with fewer social gatherings to spark casual conversations between farmers and foster the group mentality of tackling landscape issues. This observation presents a major challenge for advancing agriculture as farmers learn best from other farmers. Expert training and extension services are important however, it is often not until a farmer sees or speaks to another farmer, particularly one they know, that they take action.
The solution
Weddin Landcare gained funding through the Australian Government's Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust for their project titled (in short) 'Over the Fence'. The project, which ran over 2025 and 2026 extends on the concept that great ideas and practice change often result from the conversations that occur between farmers over the fence and when farmers get the opportunity to look beyond their farm gate. As part of the project, six local field days were held on a variety of topics, with guest presenters and practical talks from local farmers.
The impact
Six field days were run as part of the Over the Fence project across 2025 and 2026 including a Strip and Disc Cropping Systems Field Day; a Microbe Friendly Farming Field Day; a Farm Business Strategies Workshop; a Landscape Rehydration Workshop; a Soil Health Workshop; and a Livestock Technology Field Day.
The field days were very popular. Previously, field day attendance was no more than about 15 farmers but, with the funding to attract quality guest speakers, coupled with the promise of farmer interactions, crowds of 30-50 farmers attended most of these field days. Greater advertising ability also drew a broader crowd, which made for greater diversity and depth in the conversations between farmers.
Each field day featured topical talks from local farmers to provide insight into what they are doing on their farm and speak to the practicalities of implementation, the benefits they’ve seen and the challenges they’ve faced or overcome. Plenty of time was allowed for in the breaks to give farmers the chance to talk to one another over a cuppa and help spark ideas, connection and practice change. Feedback surveys collected from the field days have proven that the farmer insights provided at each field day are what participants found most valuable.
Key facts
- Weddin Landcare delivered six local field days as part of their 'Over the Fence' project that connected farmers with early adopters and experts on a variety of climate-smart agriculture topics.
- Attendance at field days increased from around 15 farmers previously to 30–50 participants at most events, with feedback showing that practical insights from local farmers were the most valued part of the program.